What Are Air Purifiers?

Air purifiers are household devices which help remove smoke, dust particles and chemical pollutants from the air. As people are becoming more environmentally-conscious, the demand for effective, home air-purification systems is likely to remain high. If you are thinking of improving the air quality in your home, there are several types of air purification methods to choose from.

Portable HEPA Air Purifiers

Portable air purifiers are known as room-to-room models. They typically weigh around 10-20 pounds and have a carrying handle. Standing on a table or on the floor, portable air purifiers are the least expensive and most convenient option for many.
The drawback of portable air purifiers is that their internal filter needs to be changed regularly or they will not work well. Some newer models offer a filter that can be taken out, washed and reused, while most other models require the annual replacement of a new and relatively expensive HEPA filter.

Portable Purifiers with Ionizing Technology

Some portable air purifiers work with an alternate method of purification called ionizing technology. Air pollutants are extracted as the air moves over an ionically- charged metal plate or filter. However, a lung irritating chemical called ozone is produced as a by-product of the process, making it a self-defeating method of air purification.

Whole-House Models

Whole-house models are built into the duct work of forced-air heating and cooling systems. As the name implies, they filter the air in the entire house. The drawback is that they have to be installed professionally and are considerably more expensive than portable models.
Whole- house models use a HEPA filter which catches ultra-fine particles. According to Consumer Reports' website, whole-house air purifiers do a better job of filtering the air than portable models do.

Air-Purifying Replacement Filters

Another option for filtering the air in the entire house is found in replacing your standard existing furnace filter with an inexpensive whole-house air filter which is designed for catching air pollutants. However, Consumer Reports reports that they are not as effective in filtering smoke as a professionally installed whole-house model.

Recommendations

When shopping for an air purifier, look on the box to determine the product's efficiency rating. Consumer Reports recommends a clean air delivery rate (CADR) score above 350. A purifier with a clean air delivery rate below 100 is a poor choice. To produce the best purification results, Consumer Reports recommends choosing a model designed for an area that is larger than you actually need.

References

• Consumer Reports